FAQ / Important Information

Premade eBook Covers

These are premade covers that are available for purchase at their indicated amount. If you purchase a premade eBook cover, that book cover would be solely yours, and I will not resell or reuse the book cover. You are allowed to ask me to make changes to a cover, but based on the complexity of the change, there may be additional charges. For example, if you want the font changed, or a different color, that will not cost more. If you want a picture added, or altered greatly, that will be subject to additional charges. Be sure to email me for a quote if you require more complex changes.

After I receive your payment through the online store, I will make the necessary changes and send you a proof. Once approved, I will email you the file sizes that you will need. If, for any reason, you do need a different file size down the road, I will be happy to send you it for free.

I can turn any premade cover into a paperback cover for an additional $50.

Premade FAQs​Where do you obtain the images used in your premade covers?Images used in premade covers are stock photos from one or more of the following websites: DepositPhotos.com, Shutterstock.com, PeriodImages.com, or Neo-Stock.com and all uses of premade covers should comply with their licensing terms as follows:Deposit Photos & Shutterstock: All images are royalty-free and you can sell up to 500,000 physical books with the image without a problem. Ebook sales are unlimited. Anything beyond that, you'll need to purchase the extended license for the photo(s) used and I can provide that information if needed.​Period Images: Images are purchased under the $11.95 license, Web + Print. Ebook Sales are unlimited, paperback limitation is 20,000 copies.​Neo-Stock: Images are purchased under the Standard License. Ebook sales are unlimited, physical copies up to 250,000.

Will covers be sold more than once?​Absolutely not. I will never resell the same cover with the same images and model. Sometimes models in different poses will be used, however, I will make sure to alter the design more than enough so that it does not resemble any previous designs already sold or currently for sale. Tugboat Design is not responsible for any other book covers by other designers that use any of the same stock included in a design.

Can I purchase a premade cover, even if I don't have a title picked out yet? Can I change the title later on?Yes! I will save the cover for when you're ready to have it updated. If you decide to change the title after already picking one, I will alter the design at no additional charge one time.

Can you make additional changes to a premade cover design?Most likely, yes. Non-complex revisions include font change, color change and minor photoshop manipulation and those are included in the cost. If you need an element removed, or a model swapped out, there will be an additional charge. Some covers I'm unable to offer exchanging out the model, so if the option isn't available at checkout, then I won't be able to swap them. If you're not sure, you can always email me first before purchasing to see if the change is do-able and what the additional fee would be.

Can I make changes myself to the cover?No, all changes need to be made by me as I don't provide the working PSD file.

Can you make a premade into a series design?Yes, most likely, it will depend on the cover. However, additional covers in the series would most likely fall under my custom pricing so please get in touch for a quote. Exceptions do exist so it's always best to discuss it with me first.

How do you wanted to be credited?Please credit "Cover design by Tugboat Design" on your copyright page.

What is your refund/cancellation policy?All sales are final since you can see what you're purchasing. If you require alterations, please email me prior to purchasing so I can confirm whether I can make those changes or not, and if there's an additional cost.

Book Covers

I want to create the perfect cover for your book which reflects the right mood and tone of your story. In order to do that, I require you send me the following information to help me begin work on your book cover:

Synopsis or long description of your book. Give me a feel for the characters, location, storyline, mood and genre of the book. Example: A cover for a Young-Adult Romance would have a completely different feel and look to it as compared to a cover for a woman's fiction novel.

If you have an idea for an book cover, explain to me what you are looking for and provide any photos (you must own copyright/model consent forms) you wish for me to use. If you want certain colors used, tell me upfront so I can incorporate it.

Send me three (3) examples of book covers in your genre that express the idea, mood and tone that you are trying to convey to give me an idea what you are looking to achieve.

Optional– Photos or clipart (you must own the copyright/model consent form) that you want to have included on the cover. Make sure they pertain to the story, a pivotal moment in the story or a main character.

Optional – Any additional wording you want on the cover aside from the title and author's name. Such as: a snippet of a review, "from the author of "blah, blah, blah", etc. Remember, less is usually best, so don't crowd your cover with unnecessary writing unless it is pertinent.

Printing Specifications (for print books only): I need to know the following information before I can start on your print cover:

Print company you plan on using

Trim Size (The overall dimensions of the finished printed book)

Popular trim sizes include:

5" x 8"

5.5” x 8.5”

6” x 9”

Total page count (determines spine width)

Creating the perfect cover for your book is important to me, so be sure to tell me everything I need to know before starting. Once I have a feel for what you want, I will create 2-3 cover designs and send you a mock-up of each. You can then let me know if you are satisfied with the design. If you are not satisfied, you can tell me what you like and don't like about the cover and I can make changes. Creating a cover is a process and I want you to be 100% satisfied with the cover you choose.​

Book Cover FAQs

Do I own all rights to my book cover design once I have paid for it?In short, yes, you own the right to use the cover as you see fit once you've approved the design and paid me in full. I keep the right to showcase the cover in my portfolio and advertising. However, any royalty-free images used in the design the original copyright is held with the photographer, we've just purchased the right for you to use the image on your cover. So you must abide by the website's terms and conditions as to how you use the cover - for example under the standard license you can use the book cover on specific promotional materials, like a business card and bookmark, but other promotional materials you would need the extended license in order to use the cover/images, like a mug, t-shirt, postcard, etc.

Can I have revisions made on my book cover in the future?If you require a small revision – say your book wins an award or you have a substantial review quote you want to add, I will be happy to do this for you at no charge. However, if the change is significant, I will give you a quote for the cost of changing it.

Can you design a book cover even if the book isn’t finished?Yes, I can if you can supply me with the information I listed above. However, it is suggested your story is 80% or more finished before you decide on a book cover. Important plot ideas that you haven't written yet may help create the perfect cover and I'd hate to miss that.

Can you send me the PSD file?I can send a flattened PSD file with the typography separate and flattened for an additional $50.00. I cannot provide a non-flattened version due to copyright restrictions with stock images and fonts.

Do I own all rights to any photos you purchase to make my book cover?Sorry, but you only own the right to use the photos for your cover; you do not own all rights to the photos. Buying all rights to photos from online photo sites can cost you thousands – I don't think you want to pay that much for your cover. However, your cover is yours to use for any promotion or advertising for your book as long as it abides by the website's terms and conditions.

Where do you get the photos for creating a cover?I will buy any photos needed to create your cover from a royalty-free image site. This means that when I purchase the photos and create your book cover, I/you are buying the right to use these photos. I cannot use any photos that I am unable to buy the copyright for. I have a subscription to shutterstock.com and depositphotos.com so the photos are included in the book covers prices. If you want an image from another photo site, I will have to charge you for the image or you will need to purchase and supply the image. ​

Do I pay extra if you buy the images?The images are included in the design price as long as they are at one of my image sites, shutterstock.com or depositphotos.com. If you insist I use an image that is at another image site, then I will have to charge you for it. Images can cost as little as $1.50 all the way up to the $1000s. Obviously, I cannot spend more money on images than my design fee.

What do you send me?You will receive your book cover in the file size that is necessary to upload to online retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords. This size typically works for online promotion as well. If additional sizes are needed, I am happy to supply them at no extra charge. ​​Are all stock photo images licensed and up to how many books can be purchased with that license?Images used in custom cover designs are stock photos from one or more of the following websites: DepositPhotos.com, Shutterstock.com, PeriodImages.com, or Neo-Stock.com and all uses of the cover should comply with their licensing terms as follows:Deposit Photos & Shutterstock: All images are royalty-free and you can sell up to 500,000 physical books with the image without a problem. Ebook sales are unlimited. Anything beyond that, you'll need to purchase the extended license for the photo(s) used and I can provide that information if needed.​Period Images: Images are purchased under the $11.95 license, Web + Print. Ebook Sales are unlimited, paperback limitation is 20,000 copies.​Neo-Stock: Images are purchased under the Standard License. Ebook sales are unlimited, physical copies up to 250,000.

​If you sell more than what's covered under the licenses mentioned above, you will need to purchase the extended license of the image. This is not a fee that I will cover. ​

Other FAQs

Does Tugboat Design have a phone number I can call? To keep your costs down, I only correspond via email. It is more efficient time-wise, as I deal with clients worldwide and spend a dedicated portion of my workday answering emails. Also, using email allows there to be a written record of your specific requirements and requests, so there is reduced risk of confusion. If you'd like to use Facebook messenger for instant chat, we can always setup a time to correspond that way as well.